News Release

Deadline for Conservation Innovation Grant Pre-Proposals is March 14, 2014

Contacts:
Anita Brown (530) 792-5644
Alan Forkey (530) 792-5653

DAVIS, Calif., Feb. 12, 2014—The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in California has announced March 14, 2014, as the deadline to submit project pre-proposals for fiscal year 2014 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). Up to $375,000 is available for the California statewide CIG competition.

CIG is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG enables NRCS to work with other public and private entities to accelerate technology transfer and adoption of promising technologies and approaches to address some of the Nation's most pressing natural resource concerns.

NRCS California is requesting CIG project pre-proposals that focus on water quality and quantity, air quality and climate change, energy conservation, waste recycling, and wildlife. The CIG announcement, with detailed proposal requirements, can be found at www.grants.gov or the California NRCS Programs webpage www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/cig/, or by contacting Erik Beardsley, state CIG program specialist, at Erik.Beardsley@ca.usda.gov.

Grants to eligible entities and individuals may not exceed $75,000. Funds will be awarded through a statewide competitive grants process. Applications are requested from eligible government or nongovernment organizations, eligible private business or individuals for competitive consideration of grant awards for projects between one and three years in duration.

Applications for this pre-proposal phase must be received by NRCS before 4 p.m. on March 14, 2014. NRCS will announce selected pre-proposal applications by April 5, 2014. Selected applicants will then be required to submit a full proposal package to NRCS by 4 p.m., June 6, 2014.

Applications sent by mail or overnight courier service must be sent to Erik Beardsley, USDA-NRCS, CIG Program, 430 G Street #4164, Davis, CA 95616-4164. Applications sent electronically must be sent through www.grants.gov or to Erik.Beardsley@ca.usda.gov.

For questions, please contact Erik Beardsley by e-mail or call (530) 792-5649, or Alan Forkey, state CIG program manager, at Alan.Forkey@ca.usda.gov or call (530) 792-5653.